More Restaurants Look To Offer, Expand Outdoor Areas

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Five restaurants are asking the city for approval to allow outdoor seating as the region is expected to enter Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's reopening plan this week. As part of the reopening plan, Pritzker said restaurants will be allowed to offer seating in patios, in streets and parking lots to help spur business following his statewide mandated shutdown of bars and restaurants.

The Crystal Lake businesses requesting a temporary seating area or seating area expansion, as well as amendments to their liquor license, include Cafe Olympic, Duke's Alehouse and Kitchen, The Cottage, Mookie's Steak and Seafood and Richard Walker's Pancake House. The proposals will be heard by the Crystal Lake City Council during a 7 p.m. Zoom meeting.

• Illinois Coronavirus Update May 24: 110,304 Cases, 4,856 Deaths

The businesses are following in the foot steps of Crystal Lake Brewing, 150 N. Main Street in Crystal Lake, which recently received approval to expand its outdoor beer garden. With the region on track to meet Pritzker's guidelines for moving to Phase 3, outdoor seating for restaurants and bars could, at the earliest, begin on Friday.

This is a developing story. Check back to Patch later for more details.

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